Robert Layton
Encyclopedia
Robert Edward John "Bob" Layton, PC
(December 25, 1925 – May 9, 2002) was a Canadian
politician.
, the son of Norah Lestelle (née England) and former Quebec cabinet
minister Gilbert Layton
. He graduated from McGill University
in 1947. He spent much of his professional career running an engineering consulting business in Montreal, Quebec.
He became a political activist for the Liberal Party of Canada
, running unsuccessfully in 1972 for the party's nomination for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
for the riding of Vaudreuil
.
, and was elected to the Federal Parliament in the 1984 election
from the Quebec riding
of Lachine, covering suburban communities on the west end of the island of Montreal. He was elected in the general elections of 1984 and 1988, and served as Minister of State for Mines
in the federal cabinet of Prime Minister
Brian Mulroney
from 1984 to 1986, after which he served as National Caucus Chairman until 1993 when he decided to retire from politics after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
.
Robert Layton had four children (three sons and a daughter) as well as six grandchildren. His eldest son, Jack Layton
, became a leader of the federal New Democratic Party
and Leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Commons
. He is the grandfather of Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton
.
Layton died in Montreal and is buried in Hudson, Quebec
.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(December 25, 1925 – May 9, 2002) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician.
Early career
Robert Layton was born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, the son of Norah Lestelle (née England) and former Quebec cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
minister Gilbert Layton
Gilbert Layton
Gilbert Layton was a businessman and politician in Quebec, Canada.-Background:Born in Montreal, Quebec, Layton, the son of Philip Edward David Layton and Alice Marion Gilbert, was a merchant and business executive in the family firm of Layton Brothers from 1918 to 1932...
. He graduated from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in 1947. He spent much of his professional career running an engineering consulting business in Montreal, Quebec.
He became a political activist for the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
, running unsuccessfully in 1972 for the party's nomination for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
for the riding of Vaudreuil
Vaudreuil-Soulanges (electoral district)
Vaudreuil-Soulanges is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997. From 1914 to 1968 a similarly-defined electoral district existed under the slightly different designation Vaudreuil—Soulanges.It consists of the...
.
Member of Parliament
In the 1980s, he joined the Progressive Conservative Party of CanadaProgressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
, and was elected to the Federal Parliament in the 1984 election
Canadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
from the Quebec riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Lachine, covering suburban communities on the west end of the island of Montreal. He was elected in the general elections of 1984 and 1988, and served as Minister of State for Mines
Minister of state (Canada)
A Minister of State is a junior cabinet minister in the Canadian Cabinet, usually given specific responsibilities to assist a senior cabinet minister in a specific area....
in the federal cabinet of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
from 1984 to 1986, after which he served as National Caucus Chairman until 1993 when he decided to retire from politics after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Family
Layton married Doris Elizabeth Steeves, a grand-niece of Father of Confederation William SteevesWilliam Steeves
William Henry Steeves was a merchant, lumberman, politician and Father of Canadian Confederation.-Life and career:...
.
Robert Layton had four children (three sons and a daughter) as well as six grandchildren. His eldest son, Jack Layton
Jack Layton
John Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC was a Canadian social democratic politician and the Leader of the Official Opposition. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and previously sat on Toronto City Council, serving at times during that period as acting mayor and deputy mayor of...
, became a leader of the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
and Leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
. He is the grandfather of Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton
Mike Layton
Michael Layton is a Canadian politician, who was elected to Toronto City Council in the 2010 city council election to succeed Joe Pantalone in Ward 19.-Background:...
.
Layton died in Montreal and is buried in Hudson, Quebec
Hudson, Quebec
Hudson, Quebec, Canada, is a town with a population of 5,088 on the south-west bank of the lower Ottawa River, in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional County Municipality. Situated about west of downtown Montreal, many residents commute to work on the Island of Montreal.- Location and...
.